Railway's Initial Action: Hydrogen Technology Implementation on Heidekrautbahn Line
Heidekrautbahn: Germany's Pioneering Hydrogen-Powered Railway
The Heidekrautbahn, a regional railway line in the Barnim district of Berlin-Brandenburg, is now operating hydrogen-powered Mireo Plus H trains, marking a significant step towards emission-free mobility in the Brandenburg region.
After more than six months in trial operation, these trains have demonstrated high availability and positive results, with several trains in daily service [1][2][3]. The hydrogen used is green hydrogen, produced locally using electricity generated from wind and solar energy.
Green Hydrogen Infrastructure
A regional, sustainable hydrogen infrastructure is being developed, including a hydrogen production plant constructed by Enertrag near the railway line. Kreiswerke Barnim coordinates the project and is responsible for the construction of the hydrogen refuelling station [1].
Future Plans
The project aims to fully convert the RB27 Heidekrautbahn line to hydrogen trains, significantly reducing diesel use and CO₂ emissions. This transition is supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport with approximately €25 million funding from the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) [1].
The successful first implementation phase paves the way for continued hydrogen train integration and infrastructure expansion. There is no indication that full electrification of this line is planned in the near future; hydrogen trains are seen as a clean transitional solution for the region [1][2].
Investment Costs
The initial phase of the project is funded with around €25 million by the BMV as part of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. This investment covers hydrogen infrastructure development, refuelling stations, and train operation validation [1].
The project partners include research institutions (German Aerospace Centre, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg) and industrial companies (Enertrag, Kreiswerke Barnim) [1].
Environmental and Operational Impact
The operation of hydrogen trains on Heidekrautbahn saves approximately 1.1 million litres of diesel fuel annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 3 million kilograms per year compared to diesel trains [1].
In summary, the Heidekrautbahn hydrogen railway project currently relies on locally produced green hydrogen, supported by a €25 million investment to develop the hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure. The Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains have been operating successfully in trial mode since late 2024, with plans to fully transition the RB27 line to hydrogen operation as part of a regional sustainable transport initiative [1][2][3].
The reactivation of the Heidekraitbahn is part of the i2030 investment program for rail expansion in the capital region. As of now, the hydrogen project on the Heidekrautbahn is the only one in local transport in Germany that is currently functioning.
Despite initial teething problems, operations on the Heidekrautbahn are running very smoothly. The district of Barnim plans to gradually convert buses and waste vehicles to hydrogen operation, necessitating the construction of a tank infrastructure for the hydrogen conversion of vehicles in the district.
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